finding time for cooking

for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

  • Recipes By Type
    • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Goodies
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes & Veggies
    • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
    • Snacks
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
    • Best Cocktail Gifts: For the At-Home Bartender or Mixologist
  • Foods I’m Obsessed With
    • 30 Minutes or Less…for the Time-Challenged Cook
    • What Bread To Make (Based on Your Time)
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Super Healthy
    • Cooking for One
    • Soup
    • Unleavened Bread Recipes
  • About Me
    • Get In Touch!
    • How-Tos
    • Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With
    • Recipes Index
    • Food and Travel—Two of My Favorite Things
    • Bunion Surgery Recovery Tips

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache

October 26, 2014

A month ago I was crowing about the glorious chocolate stout cake with chocolate ganache I made for my birthday. It was fudgy and rich but not too sweet, with a depth from the stout. Basically perfect. Then, a couple days later, my friends asked if I could bring a dessert to their dinner party. They’re both gluten-free, and I have a number of go-to recipes. But I couldn’t get that chocolate cake out of my mind.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Quinoa Cake with Chocolate Ganache

I knew I’d pinned a gluten-free quinoa cake months ago, but didn’t quite love the exact ingredient proportions. I found another, tweaked it a little, and used the same chocolate ganache as the other cake. I took the remaining three-fourths of my birthday cake and the quinoa cake to the party.

I had to label them because they were identical, and honestly, I think people liked them equally. The only real difference you could tell was that the quinoa cake didn’t have the stout (on account of the gluten), but I plan to adapt it for a bourbon or similar at some point—just have to do my research on gluten and alcohol. And there was still some of the whole quinoa in it since my blender isn’t great, but if you use a food processor it will puree it and you’d never even know.

This cake is topped with a super easy (but fancy looking) pouring dark chocolate ganache…I show two different techniques in that post, but either way you’re talking like 5 minutes max, and 2-3 ingredients.

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake quinoa cooking

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the water and quinoa to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to low, then continue to cook at a simmer for 20 minutes or according to package instructions. Once it’s cooked, remove the lid, fluff with a fork, and cool to room temperature (you can put it in the fridge for this, just stir occasionally to keep it from becoming a gummy mess).

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake quinoa eggs blender

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake quinoa eggs blender2

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease and line a large round pan with parchment paper and set aside. I used a springform pan, which makes it easier to get the cake out of the pan.

In a blender or food processor (preferred, gives you better texture), blend the milk, eggs, and vanilla, then add the cooled quinoa and melted butter. Blend until completely smooth.

It weirdly looks like tapioca pudding before blending…

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake dry ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt (as well as the cinnamon and cayenne if you’re using). I used dutch-process cocoa powder because I love the rich, dark, deep flavors it gives. But either that or regular cocoa powder are fine.

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake wet & dry ingredients

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake wet & dry ingredients combined

Pour the blended mixture over dry ingredients, and stir to combine. It will be a fairly thick batter.

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake batter pan

Pour into the prepared pan and spread to even it out. Bake for around 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. It may be closer to 50 or 60 minutes, just depending on your oven (this was originally meant to be a two-layer cake, so you may need a longer bake time).

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake baked

If you’re using a springform pan, unmold the cake after letting it cool for only a few minutes. Getting the icing on there while it’s still warm helps seal in some of the moistness.

If you used a regular pan, you’ll probably need to let it cool longer so you can safely remove it from the pan without it falling apart.

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake chocolate chips cream

I go into more detail in this post on how to make chocolate ganache (two different methods, and both are so easy!) but basically you’re going to melt the chocolate, cream, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, whisking constantly.

I often just heat up the cream in the microwave or on the stove until it’s hot but not boiling, and then just pour it over the chocolate chips, add the coffee, and whisk until smooth and creamy.)  Let’s be honest, I’m lazy.

gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake cooling closeup

Gluten-Free Chocolate Quinoa Cake with Chocolate Ganache done

Poke some holes in the cake with a toothpick, then drizzle the ganache over the top of the cake, spread, and let set. The cake will keep well for a few days (recommend refrigerating, or at least covering with foil), but let’s be honest—no one’s going to let it sit around that long!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Quinoa Cake with Chocolate Ganache

Quinoa Chocolate Cake
  • 1 1/3 cup of water
  • 2/3 cup of dry white quinoa (rinsed if the package doesn’t state that it is rinsed)
  • 1/3 cup of milk
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup of butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar (I went light on the sugar)
  • 1 cup of cocoa powder (I used dutch-process, it’s darker & richer)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • Optional:  1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon & 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Chocolate Ganache Icing
  • 6 ounces of good semisweet chocolate chips
  • 6 tablespoons of heavy cream
  • 3/4 teaspoon of instant coffee granules or instant espresso
  1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the water and quinoa to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and continue cooking at a simmer for 20 minutes. Once cooked, fluff the quinoa with a fork and allow to cool to room temperature (you can put it in the fridge for this, just stir occasionally).
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease and line a large round pan (I used a springform) with parchment paper and set aside.
  3. In a blender or food processor (preferred), blend the milk, eggs, and vanilla, then add the cooled quinoa and melted butter. Blend until completely smooth.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt (and cinnamon & cayenne pepper if you’re using).
  5. Pour the blended quinoa mixture over dry ingredients, and stir to combine. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for around 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. It may be closer to 50 or 60 minutes, just depending on your oven.
  6. For the ganache, melt the chocolate, cream, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, whisking constantly. (My friend also suggested that you can heat up the cream until it’s hot but not boiling, and then just pour it over the chocolate chips, add the coffee, and whisk until smooth and creamy.)
  7. If you’re using a springform pan, unmold the cake after letting it cool for a few minutes. Poke some holes in the cake with a toothpick, then drizzle the ganache over the top of the cake, spread, and let set. If you used a regular pan, let it cool enough to where you can safely remove it from the pan without it falling apart, then follow the same steps.
  8. Store covered, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.

Original recipe here

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Recipe Experimentation

« Parmesan Roasted Acorn Squash
Food Travel Postcard: North Island, New Zealand »

Trackbacks

  1. Best Gluten-Free Recipes for the Holidays – finding time for cooking says:
    December 3, 2017 at 7:27 pm

    […] Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

Follow Along!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Recent IG Adventures!

This gin-based “hard” cherry limeade is the pe This gin-based “hard” cherry limeade is the perfect summer nostalgia…now all I need is some cheddar poppers from Sonic ☀️😜

Tap the link in my IG banner to get the (super easy) recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 

#cherryliqueur #cherrylimeade #summercocktails #sanguemorlacco
Getting to the perfect salted peanut butter chocol Getting to the perfect salted peanut butter chocolate shortbread cookie was QUITE the journey...but I absolutely love this final version.  Even better, the dough log keeps in the freezer so you can slice off a few cookies any time a craving strikes! 

Tap the link in my IG bio to get the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 

#peanutbuttercookies #cookies #bakingfromscratch #sliceandbake
An easy 10-minute spiced chickpea scramble that is An easy 10-minute spiced chickpea scramble that is full of flavor (I *always* accidentally make it too spicy), versatile, and a great plant-based lunch option. For me on a gut health/candida diet, this has become a go-to recipe when I need something fast!

Check out the recipe by clicking on the link in my IG bio & tapping this photo! 

#chickpeas #veganrecipes #plantbased #candidadiet
This basil gin smash is the summer cocktail you NE This basil gin smash is the summer cocktail you NEED! It’s delicious, ultra refreshing, & so easy…just a couple ingredients (critically, good fresh basil), 1 minute to shake, & you’ll be sipping tart herbaceous goodness.

Click the link in my IG bio & tap this pic to see the (crazy easy) recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking  #summercocktails #ginsmash #freshbasil #gincocktail
I’ve got savory, carb-y goodness comin’ at ya I’ve got savory, carb-y goodness comin’ at ya today, and who doesn’t love that?! A really good authentic focaccia requires at least 18-24 hours to make, but this "quick" Rosemary & caramelized onion version can be done in around 4 hours and is SO good!

See the recipe by tapping the link in my IG bio & choosing these pics! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#focaccia #easyfocaccia #breadrecipe #bakingfromscratch
This delicious spiced Middle Eastern grilled chick This delicious spiced Middle Eastern grilled chicken shawarma is a super easy weeknight meal this summer, whether cooking solo or for a crowd!

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this pic to get the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#grillingrecipes #chickenshawarma #healthydinner #weeknightmeals
This adult take on a cherry lemonade (with gin, my This adult take on a cherry lemonade (with gin, my true love) is so delicious and refreshing…and has a secret ingredient to get that intense cherry flavor! 

Get the recipe by tapping on the link in my IG bio and choosing this pic—> @findingtimeforcooking 
#cocktailrecipes #sanguemorlacco #cherrylemonade #gincocktails
I am OBSESSED with key lime pie, and never knew ho I am OBSESSED with key lime pie, and never knew how easy it is to make at home! This is the best key lime pie recipe around, a perfect balance of tart & sweet, the creamiest custardy filling, and a sweet, buttery graham cracker crust 😍 

Get the recipe yourself by tapping the link in my IG bio & choosing this photo —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#keylimepie #keylime #easydessert #classicdessert
Looking for a new healthy go-to dish?? This “loa Looking for a new healthy go-to dish?? This “loaded” Thai chicken salad only takes 15 minutes to whip up and is packed with veggies, texture, & flavor! What really makes the dish is the sweet-spicy-savory dressing… *chefs kiss* 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to see the recipe!
#healthyrecipes #thaiflavors #healthydinner #cabbagerecipe
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Sweet Brown Rice Porridge

My Own Personal Best Chili

Socca (Chickpea Flatbread) with Roasted Veggies & Goat Cheese

Staving Off Scurvy (Orange Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Icing)

One-Bowl Yogurt and Honey Olive Oil Cake

Recent Posts

  • Summer Nostalgia: Cherry Limeade for Grown-Ups
  • Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread
  • 10-Minute Spiced Chickpea Scramble

Categories

  • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
  • Bread Recipes
  • Breakfast Goodies
  • Cooking for One
  • Desserts
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
  • Eating Out
  • Family Secret Recipes
  • Food-Related Miscellany
  • Foods I'm Obsessed With
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Go-To Recipes
  • How-Tos
  • Kitchen Gear
  • Main Dishes
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Recipe Experimentation
  • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
  • Side Dishes & Veggies
  • Snacks
  • Soup
  • Super Healthy
  • Travel and Food
  • Uncategorized

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

Copyright & Terms of Use

Copyright 2022 Finding Time For Cooking

9 shares